Mop-head



'UNITED i STATES PATENT Onrlcieo CORYDON KARR, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

MOP-HEAD.

ISpecification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50.137. datedSeptember 26, 1865.

To all lwhom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, CoRYDoN KARR, of the city of Buffalo, in the countyof Erie and State of N ew York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Mop-Heads; and I hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof, reference being had to t-heaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which-Figure lis a side elevation of my invention, the wood portion of thehandle being omitted from the drawing. Fig. 2 is a plan view of thecollar-nut B, to which the movable jaw E is affixed. (Shown separately.)Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the jam-nut C, by which the collar E issecured in position. (Shown detached.)

Like letters indicate corresponding parts in all ot the figures.

The nature of my invention consists in the employment of a threadedcollar carrying the movablejaw of the mop-head and working on ascrewshank, A, which is pivoted to the other jaw, together with ajam-nut, for holding the collar securely in any position required.

As represen ted in the drawings,A is a screwshank, made hollow at itsupper extremity to receive the ordinary wooden handle. Its opposite endis provided with a pivot, which passes through the straight jaw D, andis headed or otherwise constructed, so that the jaw may revolve freelywithout coming off. The otherj aw, E, is rigidly connected with arms onthe sides of the threaded collar B. By turning the shank A in the collarB, or Vice versa, the collar traverses the thread of the shank andcarries the movable j aw E to or from the stationary one, D, accordingto the direction in which the one is rotated.

Fitted also to the thread of the shank A is a jam-nut, G, provided withlugs or any other convenient means for turning with the hand. rIhis nutis employed to hold the collar B rmly in the position required to clampthe mopcloth; and the operation is this: The cloth being insertedbetween the two jaws, the screw shank A is turned by the handle (or thehead turned while the handle remains stationary) until the cloth ispressed between the two as tightly as necessary, when the jam-nut C isturned so as to press hard against the collar.

This fixes it immovably, as no amount of vibration or use will have theeffect to loosen both screws, and by this means the mop-fastening isrendered entirely secure and a great cause of trouble is obviated.

The bearing-surface of the jam-nut is preferably made somewhat conical,and a corresponding recess provided in the collar to receive it toinsure a considerable degree of friction between the two. This sameresult may be accomplished by casting the two surfaces withcorresponding annular grooves and rings, or by simply making thesurfaces dat and broad. rI he advantage gained by this device is, thatthe nut, working freely, as it should, upon the screw, will, in movingthe collar back and forth to adjust it, when there is no resist'- anceto thejaw, carry the jam-nut with it by the friction of their adjoiningsurfaces (the two then acting as a single nut) and prevent the necessityot' turning the jam-nut separately. When the collar is screwed downfirmly on the mop-cloth, however, the effect of setting the jam-nut hardagainst it imparts the greater friction to the thread, and thus holdsthe collar immovably in place.

In mop-heads as heretofore constructed the clamping of the cloth iseffected by screwing a nut or collar down, the resistance ot' whichcomes against a shoulder often formed on the wooden handle. The constantworking ofthe mop tends to unloose the head from the handle or tounelamp the cloth, and in order to obtain a requisite shoulder for thismode ot construction the handle is so much weakened by being cut awaythat it is liable to break at this point. i

The advantages of myimprovenxent are, that greater strength is obtainedboth in the head and handle of the mop. The clamping of the mop-clothisentirelyreliable. Thecollar moves from the jam-nut in the act ofspreading the jaws to change the cloth, thereby making it unnecessary toremove the jam-nut by hand, and the jaws may be opened or closed byturning either the handle or the head, so that unskillful persons cannotfail of working it successfully.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination and arrangement of the iam-nut C with the threadedlcollar B and screw-shank A, operating as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with the jam-nut C and collar B, the pivoting of thescrew-shank A in the stationary jaw D, whereby the opening and closingof the jaws may be effected by turning either the head or handle of themop, substantially es described.

3. In combination with the threaded collar B and. serewshank A, formingthe contiguous surfaces of the jam-nut C and collar B conical or ofequivalent shape, substantially in the manner and for the purposes setforth.

GORYDON KARR.

Witnesses:

J. FRASER, JAY HYATT.

